iKamper folding rooftop tent

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share this neat product with you:

https://ikamper.com/products/x-cover

Watch the video on that page, then read the rest of this post to share your thoughts!

Why should you?  Well, the narrator of that video is one of us.... kind of! 

Chris Cashbough is the Chris formerly known as Chris@SOG here on the forum, and is the former marketing manager, former production manager (and possibly other job titles, he was there for a while!) at SOG long before MTO even existed.  He joined up to help us get off the ground with some very helpful SOG info when we were getting MTO off the ground, and that's why the SOG forum is at the top of the manufacturer list.

He's been a free agent for a while since SOG was bought out a couple of years ago, and now he's the Product Manager for iKamper!

So, if you are looking for a rooftop tent, support one of our own and have a look at iKamper, and if you aren't looking for a rooftop tent, well, watch the video to the end- I promise it will be worth it!   

Def

[smiller43147]

Looks like a well designed product.  There is surely a market for that.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Did you watch all the way to the end?

 

Def

[Enginears]

Did you watch all the way to the end?

 

Def

Yeah I noticed that move haha. I used to really want one of these things but have never been in a position to 1.buy and 2.use enough to justify purchase

It would technically work for camping but I feel like these really excel on overlanding/BLM camping etc. open ranges where you can freely camp. Round here there is very little to no open camping areas.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I've often wondered about them myself.  I like the idea, but having to break camp every time you want to go somewhere seems like a pain in the bottom.

Mind you, for road trips I could see it being very handy.  Drive till you get tired, find a spot to stop, set it up in minutes and off to bed you go.

Then the next morning you fold it all up and are on your way again in no time. 

To be honest, I hate paying for hotels when I am road tripping because I rarely spend any time there- usually about six hours for a bit of sleep and maybe a shower.

That having been said, as I get older, I am appreciating the hotel rooms more and more as my stomach gets less and less tolerant of road food, so until they make one with a proper Biffy, I think I'm good.   

Ded

[Farmer X]

Round here there is very little to no open camping areas.

Please forgive my ignorance, but what constitutes an open camping area, and what's the opposite? As a wannabe camper, I feel like I should know those things.

I hate paying for hotels when I am road tripping because I rarely spend any time there- usually about six hours for a bit of sleep and maybe a shower.

Truck-stop showers are smurfing expensive, and I imagine campground showers can be nasty. The only other option I can think of for showering is a gym, and I ain't paying that membership fee. You have a good point regarding the hotels.

As I get older, I am appreciating the hotel rooms more and more as my stomach gets less and less tolerant of road food...

I can think of a few ways to alleviate that: a 12-volt oven, a camp stove (I really need to get one of those), and bringing food with you. Of course, those may not be practical if you have to drive to Vancouver.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Please forgive my ignorance, but what constitutes an open camping area, and what's the opposite? As a wannabe camper, I feel like I should know those things.
Truck-stop showers are smurfing expensive, and I imagine campground showers can be nasty. The only other option I can think of for showering is a gym, and I ain't paying that membership fee. You have a good point regarding the hotels.
I can think of a few ways to alleviate that: a 12-volt oven, a camp stove (I really need to get one of those), and bringing food with you. Of course, those may not be practical if you have to drive to Vancouver.

You are correct, but I also suffer from a serious lack of patience on the road.  I want to keep moving until there's a good enough reason to stop, like needing sleep or fuel.  Silly necessities like eating should be done while on the move!   

Def

[Sea Monster]

These (not this brand specifically, but the general concept) are very popular in Australia,

One of these: https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/adventure-kings-roof-top-tent.html
is almost "standard" an any outdoorsy ute/4WD.

I imagine they're not particularly amazing quality, but they're cheap...cheaper than a good quality tent - a single bloke who spends a few weekends a year camping/hunting/fishing may see the value.

(The brand, Adventure Kings, rapidly dominated the market since they arrived in Aus around a decade ago - they started off about half the price of other imported products, and have remained competitive despite other cheap competitors coming into the fray as Australia "benefits" from globalisation....I'm not spruiking them, I don't have any of their products, I'm just commenting on how popular they are)